Are Written Employment Contracts Necessary? The Illinois State Bar Offers Some Tips

By Pam Menaker of Clifford Law Offices PC on Tuesday, August 6, 2013.

Question: I am about to join a new company in a management position. Should I insist that my employer provide me with a written contract? Answer: An employer is under no obligation to provide a written contract to an employee. Most employment relationships are based on an oral agreement. However, if you do not have a written contract, your employer can fire you at any time for any reason without advance warning. There are exceptions. An employer may not fire or discriminate against you based on race, sex, color, disability, religion, etc. or because you made a complaint about the employer to a government agency. Furthermore, a written contract may put additional limits on the employer's ability to fire you. For more information about Illinois law, visit www.illinoislawyerfinder.com. If you have a legal question, send it to illinoislawcolumn@isba.org.llinois Law Now is a series of newspaper and internet posts prepared by the Illinois State Bar Association that address legal issues of interest to the public. For additional information about the law, visit http://www.illinoislawyerfinder.com.

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